Combined step-ladder and wash-bench



' (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' G. HOOD.

COMBINED STEP LADDER AND WASH BENCH. No. 257,493. Patented May 9,1882.

fit 062L151",

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

O. HOOD.

COMBINED STEP LADDER AND WASH-BENCH.

No 257,493. Patented May 9 1882.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CORNELIUS HOOD, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

COMBINED STEP-LADDER AND WASH-BENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,493, dated May 9, 1882,

Application filed October 22, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CORNELIUS H001), of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Step-Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

The nature and objects of these improvements will fully appear from the subjoined description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figurelshows the step-ladder. Fig.2 shows the step-ladder arranged as a wash-bench. Fig. 3 shows the step-ladder closed when notin use. Fig. etis a rear view ofthe ladder, showing the brace D.

The objects of the invention are the combination of a step-ladder and a wash-bench in one device.

A represents the step portion of the stepladder, and B the hinged support.

The brace 0, connecting the said parts of the step'ladder, and which forms the first of my improvements, consists of two iron bars of peculiar construction. Each of said bars is madeone-halt'thicknessinabouthalfitslength, and the two are pivoted together at the mid die of the said half-thickness, thus forming a joint for folding the said brace together when the ladder is closed. The ends of the thin portion are beveled off, so that when the brace is opened the said beveled ends fit into dovetail shoulders c in the thick portion. This is for the purpose of preventing the brace from folding downward, and also helps to stiffen the brace when open.

The sliding brace 1) for supporting the shelf, which forms the second of my improvements, consists of a. flat bar, D, attached to a crosslower end of said brace 1) slides through a mortise in a similar oscillating cross-bar, (i journaled in the support B. The lower end of said supportD is provided with a spring-catch, d, for retaining the bar in place and holding the shelf up. \Vhen it is desired to close the shelf the spring is depressed.

The third of my improvements consists in making a shoulder, a, on the inner ends of the arms of the shelfE and of the legs of the supporting-frame F, so that when said frames are turned into position for forming the washbench the upper and lower steps of the ladder A rest in said shoulders c aforesaid. This relieves the bolts from the strain which they would otherwise be subject to, and thus the bench is made extra strong and stiff, capable of sustaining much greater weight, and is not liable towrenching or loosening of the joints. Having described my invention, ll claim- 1. The combination, with the supportB and the hinged sheltE, of the sliding brace D, attached to the crossbar d,journaled in the arms of the shelf and playing-in a mortise in the 0seillating cross-bar (1?, and provided with the spring (1, all as shown and described.

2. The combination,with thestep-ladder and its support B, of the frames E and F, having the notches orshoulders c e in their upper ends, which engage with the edges of the steps, as and for the purpose set forth. 7

(J. HOOD. \Vitnesses:

Geo. W. TIBBITTS, E. W. LAIRD. 

